Apparatus and method for motion detecting in mobile communication terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method detect a motion in a mobile station. A motion is determined via a motion detecting function in the mobile station. A parameter for motion detection is determined from sensor data obtained via a sensor. The extracted parameter for the motion detection is transmitted to a counterpart mobile station. A parameter for motion detection determined by the counterpart mobile station is received from the counterpart mobile station. The extracted parameter is compared with the parameter received from the counterpart mobile station to determine a function associated with a motion input by a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is related to and claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office on Jan. 22, 2010 and assigned Serial No.10-2010-0005845, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detectinga motion in a mobile communication terminal. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining amotion through a motion detecting function in two or more mobilecommunication terminals. In the present disclosure, a mobilecommunication terminal is also referred to as a mobile station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A mobile station that includes a motion detecting function detects amotion input by a user via a sensor, and performs a predeterminedfunction for the detected motion. Accordingly, the user may allow themobile station to perform a desired function by inputting a motion tothe mobile station itself even without manually pressing a key buttonprovided on the mobile station. Such a motion detecting function may beutilized for games or applications.

A mobile station that includes a motion detecting function extracts(determines) a parameter for motion detection from sensor data obtainedvia a sensor of itself, and compares the extracted (determined)parameter with a reference value of a parameter to detect a specificmotion input by a user.

To allow a mobile station to perform a predetermined function byinputting a motion to the mobile station that includes a motiondetecting function, a user needs to input an accurate motion to themobile station. That is, the user has to input a motion to meet aparameter reference value for a specific motion. However, it is not easythat the user inputs a motion to meet a parameter reference value for aspecific motion. Accordingly, the mobile station may not perform arelevant function or perform a false function.

For example, a file transfer function may be defined by allowing twomobile stations to bump against each other and giving an impact. Thatis, when an impact motion is input while a mobile station moves(referred to as a ‘tipping motion’ hereinafter), the relevant mobilestation may recognize the input motion as a motion for file transfer,and when an impact motion is input while a mobile station does not move(referred to as a ‘tapping motion’ hereinafter), the relevant mobilestation may recognize the input motion as a motion for file reception,such that transmission/reception of a file between the two mobilestations may be performed. In this situation, when movement is small, atipping motion is not properly detected, and the mobile station may notrecognize that the motion for file transfer has been input. In addition,when movement is given to both the two mobile stations while a userinputs an impact motion, a tapping motion is not properly detected, andthe mobile station may not recognize the motion for file reception hasbeen input. In this situation, the mobile stations cannottransmit/receive the file accordingly.

Additionally, the conventional motion detecting function does notconsider a plurality of users. Therefore, there is a limitation in usingthe motion detection function in games or applications for a pluralityof users. This limitation is contradictory to a recent trend toapplications for a plurality of users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary object to provide at least the advantages described below.Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a method for detecting a motion in a mobile station.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and amethod for determining a motion via a motion detecting function in twoor more mobile stations.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand a method for determining a motion by sharing a parameter for motiondetection in two or more mobile stations that include a motion detectingfunction.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a motiondetecting function that considers a plurality of users in a mobilestation.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method fordetermining a motion via a motion detecting function in a mobile stationis provided. The method includes extracting (determining) a parameterfor motion detection from sensor data obtained via a sensor. Theextracted (determined) parameter for the motion detection is transmittedto a counterpart mobile station. A parameter for motion detectionextracted (determined) by the counterpart mobile station is receivedfrom the counterpart mobile station. And the extracted (determined)parameter is compared with the parameter received from the counterpartmobile station to determine a function associated with a motion input bya user.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusfor determining a motion via a motion detecting function in a mobilestation is provided. The apparatus includes a motion detector forextracting (determining) a parameter for motion detection from sensordata obtained via a sensor and comparing the extracted (determined)parameter with a parameter received from a counterpart mobile station todetermine a function associated with a motion input by a user. A datatransmitter transmits the extracted (determined) parameter for motiondetection to the counterpart mobile station. And a data receiverreceives the parameter for motion detection extracted (determined) bythe counterpart mobile station.

The present invention has advantages of reducing a situation in which amobile station cannot perform a relevant function or perform a falsefunction, and thus remarkably increasing a motion detect success rate byallowing two or more mobile stations that include a motion detectingfunction to share parameters for motion detection and determine amotion. In addition, the present invention has an advantage of using amotion detecting function in games or applications for a plurality ofusers by providing a motion detecting function that considers aplurality of users.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and theterm “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controlsat least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware,firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particularcontroller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally orremotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words andphrases.

Other aspects, advantages and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating apparatuses of two mobilestations that include a motion detecting function according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a process for determining a motion via a motiondetecting function in two mobile stations that include a motiondetecting function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a data format shared for motion determination in twomobile stations that include a motion detecting function according to anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a process for determining a motion input by a user bycomparing parameters shared with a counterpart mobile station in twomobile stations that include a motion detecting function according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 4, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged mobile communication device. Thefollowing description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of embodiments ofthe invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. Itincludes various specific details to assist in that understanding butthese are to be regarded as merely illustrative and not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes andmodifications of the embodiments described herein can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptionsof well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity andconciseness.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an alternative fordetermining a motion via a motion detecting function in two or moremobile stations. More particularly, embodiments of the present inventionprovide an alternative for determining a motion by sharing parametersfor motion detection among two or more mobile stations that include amotion detecting function. For convenience in description, the followingdescription is made using two mobile stations that include a motiondetecting function as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating apparatuses of two mobilestations that include a motion detecting function according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, each of a mobile station A 100 and a mobile station B110 that include a motion detecting function includes a motion detector102(112), a data transmitter 104(116), and a data receiver 106(114).

Referring to FIG. 1, the motion detector 102(112) senses a motion inputby a user via a sensor (for example, an acceleration sensor) to obtainsensor data, and drives a motion detecting algorithm based on theobtained sensor data to determine the motion input by the user. Here,examples of the motion detecting algorithm include an impact detectingalgorithm, a shake detecting algorithm, a snap detecting algorithm, andsuch. More particularly, the motion detector 102(112) extracts(determines) a parameter for motion detection from the obtained sensordata to transmit the same to a counterpart mobile station via the datatransmitter 104(116), and receives a parameter for motion detectionextracted (determined) by the counterpart mobile station from thecounterpart mobile station via the data receiver 106(114). In addition,the motion detector 102(112) compares parameters shared with thecounterpart mobile station through the transmission/reception, that is,compares the parameter extracted (determined) by the mobile stationitself and the parameter extracted by the counterpart mobile station todetermine the motion input by the user.

The data transmitter 104(116) transmits a parameter for motion detectioninput from the motion detector 102(112) to the counterpart mobilestation. Here, the data transmitter 104(116) may perform communicationwith the counterpart mobile station using Bluetooth communication, awireless Local Area Network (LAN) communication, a WIFI communication,an infrared ray communication, an Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication,and such.

The data receiver 106(114) receives a parameter for motion detectionextracted by the counterpart mobile station from the counterpart mobilestation to provide the extracted parameter to the motion detector102(112). Here, the data receiver 106(114) may perform communicationwith the counterpart mobile station using Bluetooth communication, awireless Local Area Network (LAN) communication, a WIFI communication,an infrared ray communication, an Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication,and such.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process for determining a motion via a motiondetecting function in two mobile stations that include a motiondetecting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a mobile station determines whether power isturned-on in block 201.

When the power-on is detected in block 201, the mobile station startssensor driving in block 203. Here, though an embodiment of the presentinvention is described using an example where sensor driving starts whenpower-on is detected, sensor driving may start according to a specificevent, and various modifications may be made based on realization.

The mobile station senses a motion input by a user via the sensor toobtain sensor data in block 205, and extracts a parameter for motiondetection from the obtained sensor data in block 207.

The mobile station transmits the extracted parameter for motiondetection to a counterpart mobile station in block 209, and receives aparameter for motion detection extracted by the counterpart mobilestation from the counterpart mobile station in block 211. Here, theparameter for the motion detection is transmitted/received in the formof a data format illustrated in FIG. 3. The data format is describedlater in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The mobile station compares the parameters shared with the counterpartmobile station via the transmission/reception to determine a motioninput by a user and performs a function associated with the determinedmotion in block 213. Here, a method for comparing the parameters sharedwith the counterpart mobile station to determine the motion input by theuser is described later in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

The mobile station ends the algorithm according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a data format shared for motion determination in twomobile stations that include a motion detecting function according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, data shared between mobile stations for motiondetermination includes parameters for motion detection such as a mobilestation ID 300, a motion ID 302, a time point 304 at which a motionoccurs, a time duration 306 for which motion is maintained, a motionintensity 308, a motion direction 310, and such. Other parameters may beadded or deleted as needed. The mobile station ID 300 serves as a uniqueidentifier of a mobile station and is used for determining what motionis input to each mobile station. The motion ID 302 serves as anidentifier of a motion input to a mobile station, indicates a motion(e.g., an impact, shake, snap, an such), and is used for determiningwhether the same motion is input to each mobile station. The time point304 at which a motion occurs is used for determining whether a motioninput to each mobile station occurs at the same time point. When themotion ID 302 and the time point 304 at which the motion occurs coincidein the parameters shared between the two mobile stations, each mobilestation compares the time 306 for which the motion is maintained, themotion intensity 308, the motion direction 310, and such, to determine amotion input by a user. Here, the time duration 306 for which the motionis maintained is used for determining a mobile station at which a motionmaintained for a longer time is input, the motion intensity 308 is usedfor determining a mobile station at which a motion whose intensity isstronger is input, and the motion direction 310 is used for determiningthe direction of a motion input at each mobile station.

FIG. 4 illustrates a process for determining a motion input by a user bycomparing parameters shared with a counterpart mobile station in twomobile stations that include a motion detecting function according to anembodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 4 illustrates an exampleof a method for determining a motion when a file transfer function isassociated to two mobile stations bumping against each other and makingan impact. In this situation, parameters shared by the mobile stationand the counterpart mobile station include a mobile station ID, a motionID, a time point at which a motion occurs, a motion intensity, and such.

Referring to FIG. 4, a mobile station shares parameters for motiondetection with a counterpart mobile station in block 401. For example, afirst mobile station transmits parameters for motion detection extractedat the first mobile stations and receives parameters for motiondetection extracted by a second (counterpart) mobile station.

The mobile station determines a mobile station ID of the counterpartmobile station from the parameters for motion detection extracted by thecounterpart mobile station in block 403.

The mobile station determines a motion ID from the parameters for motiondetection extracted by itself and the parameters for motion detectionextracted by the counterpart mobile station and compares the determinedmotion IDs in block 405. In block 407, the mobile station determineswhether the determined motion IDs coincide.

When determining that the determined motion IDs do not coincide in block407, the mobile station ends the process according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

In contrast, when determining that the determined motion IDs coincide inblock 407, the mobile station proceeds to block 409 to determine thetime point at which the motion occurs from the parameters for motiondetection extracted by itself and the parameters for motion detectionextracted by the counterpart mobile station, and compare the determinedtime points at which the motion occurs. The mobile station determineswhether the determined time points at which the motion occurs coincidein block 411.

When determining that the determined time points at which the motionoccurs do not coincide in block 411, the mobile station ends the processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

In contrast, when determining that the determined time points at whichthe motion occurs coincide in block 411, the mobile station determinesthe mobile station and the counterpart mobile station have detected thesame motion simultaneously and proceeds to block 413 to determine amotion intensity from the parameters for motion detection extracted byitself and the parameters for motion detection extracted by thecounterpart mobile station, and then compare the determined motionintensities.

The mobile station determines whether the motion intensity of the mobilestation is greater than that of the counterpart mobile station throughthe motion intensity comparison in block 415.

When determining that the motion intensity of the mobile station isgreater than that of the counterpart mobile station in block 415, themobile station determines the motion input to the mobile station by auser as a motion for file transfer in block 417, and proceeds to block419 to determine the motion input to the counterpart mobile station bythe user as a motion for file reception.

In contrast, when determining that the motion intensity of the mobilestation is not greater than that of the counterpart mobile station inblock 415, the mobile station determines the motion input to the mobilestation by the user as a motion for file reception in block 421, andproceeds to block 423 to determine the motion input to the counterpartmobile station by the user as a motion for file transfer.

After that, the mobile station ends the process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment, as a parameter for motion detection shared by themobile station and the counterpart mobile station, an ID of a relevantmobile station is transmitted. Therefore, the present invention may beutilized when two or more mobile stations exist. For example, when threeor more users input a motion of shaking to a mobile station, each mobilestation can know a user who shakes a mobile station many times within ashortest time, and know that the mobile station itself is an n-th mobilestation that shakes many times.

Though a mobile station and a counterpart mobile station shareparameters for motion detection, and each mobile station determines amotion input by a user based on the shared parameters in an embodimentof the present invention, as an alternative, the mobile station mayreceive the parameters for motion detection from the counterpart mobilestation, determine a motion input by a user based on parametersextracted by itself and the parameters received from the counterpartmobile station, and transmit the determined result to the counterpartmobile station.

Another example is when there are two counterpart mobile stations (asecond mobile station and a third mobile station). Here, the presentinvention is implemented in an apparatus for determining a motion via amotion detecting function in a mobile station. The apparatus comprises amotion detector for determining a parameter for motion detection fromsensor data obtained via a sensor and comparing the determined parameterwith a parameter received from a second mobile station and a thirdmobile station to determine a user's motion input, and a data receiverfor receiving the parameter for motion detection determined by thesecond mobile station and the third mobile station from the secondmobile station and the third mobile station, respectively.

The apparatus further comprises a data transmitter for transmitting thedetermined parameter for motion detection to the second mobile stationand the third mobile station. The sensor data are acquired by using amotion detecting algorithm including one of an impact detectingalgorithm, a shake detecting algorithm, and a snap detecting algorithm.The data receiver receives the parameter by using one of Bluetoothcommunication, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communication, a WIFIcommunication, an infrared ray communication, and an Ultra WideBand(UWB) communication. The parameter for motion detection comprises atleast one of a mobile station Identifier (ID), a motion ID, a time pointat which a motion occurs, a time duration for which a motion ismaintained, a motion intensity, and a motion direction. Also, the datatransmitter transmits the determined parameter by using one of Bluetoothcommunication, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communication, a WIFIcommunication, an infrared ray communication, and an Ultra WideBand(UWB) communication.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to determine a motion via a motiondetecting function in a first mobile station, the method comprising:determining a first parameter for motion detection from sensor dataobtained via a sensor, wherein the first parameter comprises a firstmotion intensity; receiving a second parameter for motion detectiondetermined by a second mobile station from the second mobile station,wherein the second parameter comprises a second motion intensity;comparing the first parameter with the second parameter; and determininga function associated with a motion input based on the comparison of thefirst parameter with the second parameter.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising transmitting the first parameter for motion detectionto at least one counterpart mobile station, the at least one counterpartmobile station comprising the second mobile station.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor data is acquired by using a motion detectingalgorithm including at least one of an impact detecting algorithm, ashake detecting algorithm, and a snap detecting algorithm.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein receiving the second parameter comprises using atleast one of a Bluetooth communication, a wireless Local Area Network(LAN) communication, a WIFI communication, an infrared raycommunication, and an Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication.
 5. The methodof claim 2, wherein transmitting the first parameter comprises using atleast one of a Bluetooth communication, a wireless Local Area Network(LAN) communication, a WIFI communication, an infrared raycommunication, and an Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein each of the first parameter and the second parameterfurther comprises at least one of a mobile station identifier (ID), amotion ID, a time point at which a motion occurs, a time duration forwhich motion is maintained, and a motion direction.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein determining the function associated with the motioninput comprises: determining whether a motion ID of the first mobilestation coincides with a motion ID of the second mobile station; whenthe motion IDs coincide, determining whether a time point at which themotion occurs for the first mobile station coincides with a time pointat which the motion occurs for the second mobile station; when the timepoints at which the motions occur coincide, determining whether thefirst motion intensity of the first mobile station is greater than thesecond motion intensity of the second mobile station; when the firstmotion intensity of the first mobile station is greater than the secondmotion intensity of the second mobile station, determining that themotion input is associated with a first function; and when the firstmotion intensity of the first mobile station is not greater than thesecond motion intensity of the second mobile station, determining thatthe motion input is associated with a second function.
 8. A mobilestation, comprising: a motion detector configured to determine a firstparameter for motion detection from sensor data obtained via a sensor,compare the first parameter with a second parameter received from acounterpart station to determine a motion input of a user, wherein thefirst parameter comprises a first motion intensity; and a data receiverconfigured to receive the second parameter for motion detectionextracted by the counterpart station, wherein the second parametercomprises a second motion intensity.
 9. The mobile station of claim 8,further comprising a data transmitter configured to transmit the firstparameter for motion detection to the counterpart station.
 10. Themobile station of claim 8, wherein the sensor data is acquired using amotion detecting algorithm including at least one of an impact detectingalgorithm, a shake detecting algorithm, and a snap detecting algorithm.11. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein the data receiver isconfigured to receive the second parameter using at least one of aBluetooth communication, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN)communication, a WIFI communication, an infrared ray communication, andan Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication.
 12. The mobile station of claim9, wherein the data transmitter is configured to transmit the firstparameter using at least one of a Bluetooth communication, a wirelessLocal Area Network (LAN) communication, a WIFI communication, aninfrared ray communication, and an Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication.13. The mobile station of claim 8, wherein each of the first parameterand the second parameter further comprises at least one of a mobilestation Identifier (ID), a motion ID, a time point at which a motionoccurs, a time duration for which a motion is maintained, and a motiondirection.
 14. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the motiondetector is configured to determine whether a motion ID of the mobilestation coincides with a motion ID of the counterpart station; when themotion IDs coincide, the motion detector is configured to determinewhether a time point at which a first motion occurs at the mobilestation coincides with a time point at which a second motion occurs atthe counterpart station; when the time points at which the first motionand the second motion occur coincide, the motion detector is configuredto determine whether the first motion intensity of the mobile station isgreater than the second motion intensity of the counterpart station;when the first motion intensity of the mobile station is greater thanthe second motion intensity of the counterpart station, the motiondetector is configured to determine that the motion input is associatedwith a first function; and when the first motion intensity of the mobilestation is not greater than the second motion intensity of thecounterpart station, the motion detector is configured to determine thatthe motion input is associated with a second function.
 15. An apparatusto determine a motion via a motion detecting function in a first mobilestation, the apparatus comprising: a motion detector configured todetermine a first parameter for motion detection from sensor dataobtained via a sensor, and compare the first parameter with secondparameters received from a second mobile station and a third mobilestation to determine a user's motion input, wherein the first parametercomprises a first motion intensity; and a data receiver configured toreceive the second parameters for motion detection determined by thesecond mobile station and the third mobile station from the secondmobile station and the third mobile station, wherein the secondparameters comprise second motion intensities.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15, further comprising a data transmitter configured to transmitthe first parameter for motion detection to the second mobile stationand the third mobile station.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein thesensor data is acquired using a motion detecting algorithm including atleast one of an impact detecting algorithm, a shake detecting algorithm,and a snap detecting algorithm.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, whereinthe data receiver is configured to receive the second parameters usingat least one of a Bluetooth communication, a wireless Local Area Network(LAN) communication, a WIFI communication, an infrared raycommunication, and an Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the first parameter and thesecond parameters further comprises at least one of a mobile stationIdentifier (ID), a motion ID, a time point at which a motion occurs, atime duration for which a motion is maintained, and a motion direction.20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the data transmitter isconfigured to transmit the first parameter using at least one of aBluetooth communication, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN)communication, a WIFI communication, an infrared ray communication, andan Ultra WideBand (UWB) communication.